After the ceremony, Andrew and Jourdan shared a few special moments before making their way to the outdoor reception.

Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass

14. Juli 2012

Andrew, a high school teacher in New York City, woke early on a crisp September Saturday to prepare his girlfriend Jourdan’s favorite breakfast. After a scenic walk on the Brooklyn Promenade, gazing at the Manhattan skyline in the distance, Andrew turned to Jourdan and said, “In a city of eight million people, I found you.” Then, he got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. Jourdan, laughing, said yes. Never one to waste time, Jourdan picked up a stack of bridal magazines for inspiration on the way home. Despite a picturesque New York City engagement, Jourdan knew she wanted a down-home southern celebration that paid homage to her horse country roots in Georgetown, Kentucky. “I had a vision of what I wanted the wedding to be like,” Jourdan says. Andrew jumped right in taking on every job, from wallpapering backdrops to decoupaging photos and hand-painting tiny toy horses. “I wanted to be involved in every part of the experience, not just our wedding day,” he explains. After months of planning, the couple had prepared what was sure to be a perfect day. But the weather had other ideas. When an unexpected summer rainstorm rolled in, forcing them to relocate the ceremony from the lush Georgetown College lawn to the campus library, Jourdan was distraught. “As a young girl, I would run across that lawn to visit my dad in his office.” Knowing his bride would be disappointed, Andrew asked one of his groomsmen to deliver a special note to Jourdan: “We've weathered a lot of storms together. If we can get through this, we can get through anything.” Those encouraging words were all Jourdan needed to lift her spirits. And like all dark clouds, there was a silver lining: a rainbow appeared in the clearing sky just in time to begin the tree-lined stroll from the ceremony to the reception. The horse farm adjacent to the museum where the reception was held perfectly complemented the day’s equestrian touches. In lieu of a traditional guest book, attendees were invited to write good luck messages on wooden horseshoes, and the bar offered a signature bourbon cocktail named after famed thoroughbred racehorse Man o’ War. Guests savored traditional southern fare like sweet tea-brined chicken, cheese grits and caramel cake–the bride’s grandmother’s recipe. As they laughed and danced among family and friends beneath the bright Kentucky stars, Jourdan and Andrew reveled in the fact that their winning celebration was truly a labor of love.